Under One Person, your rebellious life has reached the heavens?

The war between the two sides thus entered a period of stagnation, with neither daring to make any rash moves. Instead, they focused their efforts on finding other backup plans to deal with Jiang Mo, who could return at any time.

He is the greatest threat to the many ancient clans and the three major powers.

Chapter 605 The Emperor's Spirit: Fighting to the Death Without Retreat

Night falls in the Sunset Royal Court, a forbidden area deep within the royal palace.

The Sunset Demon Emperor, along with a group of kings and demon experts, gathered here. Each of them exuded a terrifying aura, more powerful than ever before.

Just a few days ago, the Sunset Demon Emperor narrowly escaped the Youyu Battlefield and immediately fled back to the Demon Clan's stronghold, where he activated the accumulated resources of the royal court over the generations.

Within that abyss-like forbidden palace, there are ancient life-bearing stars that successive demon emperors have traveled to beyond the heavens to imprison, suppressing them beneath the Nine Netherworlds for future use.

Twenty-six ancient life-bearing stars, sealed by the star chessboard of the royal family, planets with diameters of hundreds of thousands or millions of kilometers, were transformed into inconspicuous chess pieces and placed within the chessboard of the forbidden area, almost forever cut off from the outside world, becoming blood bags that successive demon emperors could use at any time.

In just a few days, the twelve chess pieces on the chessboard were shattered. The Sunset Demon Emperor devoured most of them to alleviate his injuries, and distributed the rest to the twelve kings to help them advance to a stronger level.

Currently, of the twelve kings present, only the Taotie Saint King is the ruler of the Nine Palaces; the rest are all at the Eight Palaces level.

"My beloved ministers, what do you say I should do?"

The Sunset Demon King, unlike its usual composed demeanor, was now filled with worry. It paced back and forth, unable to come up with a definite idea.

"........"

The entire hall was silent; no monarch dared to stand up at this critical juncture and utter any words that would diminish their own prestige and boost the morale of the enemy.

In reality, they all knew very well that there was no possibility of winning this war. As the Demon Emperor's confidants, disciples, and close friends, they all knew the details of that battle.

Now that the Demon Lord has escaped, the root of the plague has resurfaced, and the Imperial Dynasty and the Sword Sect are closing in step by step, as long as the fighting continues, the Sunset Royal Court, which is only guarded by two Nine Palaces Sovereigns, has absolutely no chance of winning.

Seeing the ministers fall silent, perhaps due to its own authority, the Sunset Demon Emperor's heart sank again. The idea that had been budding earlier grew stronger, and just as it was about to blurt it out...

The Gluttonous Saint King, who was standing to the side, spoke up.

"Your Majesty, the situation is dire. The root of the plague is far beyond our control. It has already obtained three great spiritual treasures, and it's only a matter of time before it regains its former peak strength. Moreover, it has the Demon Lord's assistance. Therefore, I risk my life to remonstrate with Your Majesty, hoping that you will have mercy on the people of my Sunset Royal Court, spare them a chance to live, and help them escape far away..."

The Gluttonous Saint King knew that these demoralizing words should not have been spoken by the Demon Emperor, so it voluntarily took on this cowardly role.

These words aroused the expectations of the kings and experts. Their eyes were slightly moved, their hearts trembled, and they felt an inexplicable tension.

Devouring Python King, Sky-Shaking Ant, Crimson Centipede King, Dark Blade King, Flood Dragon King, Evil Ape King, Sky-Piercing Cicada King, Blood Fiend White Tiger King, Pegasus Saint King, Hundred-Eyed Demon Insect King, Fiery Overlord Bull King.

All eleven monarchs felt resentful, yet powerless to change the situation.

The Sunset Demon Emperor's gaze, tinged with guilt, gently swept over them and each of his other ministers, finally murmuring:

"You may leave..."

"I'm not leaving."

"I will arrange the relocation."

"Your Majesty! Absolutely not! As long as we live, we can always fight again! If you stay, it will be a dead end."

The loyal Evil Ape King tried his best to dissuade him, and immediately knelt down on one knee, pleading loudly for the Demon Emperor to rescind his order.

The Gluttonous Saint King realized that the Demon Emperor was trapped by his inner demons and had already fallen into a trap. Both of his clones had been killed by Jiang Mo, so how could he endure it? Now he had to flee in a sorry state. Even if he survived, his cultivation would probably be difficult to advance further in the future.

The Gluttonous Saint King was at a loss for words. He understood the Demon Emperor's feelings and did not want to bind him with righteousness. He could only remain silent and sigh inwardly.

The atmosphere grew increasingly tense. Sensing something was amiss, another king spoke up, his expression filled with panic:

"Your Majesty, you cannot abandon us! Without your protection, how can we establish ourselves in this foreign land? What if the ancient planet we migrated to also has powerful beings?"

The speaker was the Sky-Shaking Ant, which had always admired the Sunset Demon Emperor the most and knew that this emperor was determined to fight to the death. Otherwise, with its racial supernatural powers, there would be no one in the world that could bind its freedom.

"Master, the Heavenly King is right..."

The Heavenly Horse Saint King echoed, then said in a deep voice, "Patience is the foundation of great achievements. Isn't that what you taught me? Please forgive your selfish desires; I only wish for your survival..."

"We still have a chance. Your disciple believes that one day you will reach the highest and strongest realm, and return in glory with your people. Please, please think it over again and again, and consider the fate of your subjects..."

Soon, the Blood Fiend White Tiger King also stepped forward and said:

"Your Majesty, if you fight to the death and refuse to retreat, I am willing to die with you."

"Without your leadership, the royal court is nothing but a rabble to me. Look at these kings and ministers, which one of them isn't a wolf in sheep's clothing? Once you leave, they will surely turn against you. I would rather fight alongside you to the very end than scheme against these scoundrels."

The Blood Fiend White Tiger King has a particularly volatile personality and speaks its mind directly. It expressed its contempt for the nine kings other than the Gluttonous Saint King and the Heavenly Horse Saint King, as well as the many demon experts present.

Why are Taotie and Tianma the exceptions?

Because their titles contain the word 'Saint,' they are beings who can be almost on par with the Demon Emperor.

The ancestors of the Taotie Saint King clan made countless earth-shattering contributions to the Sunset Emperor at the beginning of the Demon Court's establishment. It is no exaggeration to say that one-third of the Demon Court's territory was conquered by that extremely powerful Demon Emperor, hence his extraordinary status.

Secondly, the royal court also had a special system of bestowing titles upon princes, which was closely related to the succession to the throne.

The succession of each generation of Demon Emperor has two forms: either the most outstanding direct descendant of the Demon Emperor ascends to the throne, or the strongest disciple of the Demon Emperor ascends to the throne.

Coincidentally, the king of the Pegasus clan became the disciple of the Demon Emperor in this generation, and possessed extremely high talent. He was granted a holy title and was openly groomed as the next Demon Emperor.

The Blood Fiend White Tiger King dared not disrespect these two, but all other kings became the targets of its accusations.

"Wolf-like ambitions? My loyalty to His Majesty is none of your business to question."

"Whatever His Majesty's order, I will carry it out without hesitation. On the contrary, you, because you are close to the Heavenly Horse Saint King, want to take this opportunity to force His Majesty to abdicate and announce a new succession to the throne, is that it!"

"Let me tell you, if His Majesty declares Tianma the new emperor, I will remain loyal. But until then, you have no right to look down on us. It is we who should look down on you. As a subject, you do not know how to advance or retreat, and you scheme against the emperor. Blood Fiend, how dare you!"

The Devouring Python King's eyes flashed with a fierce light, its intense killing intent undisguised. It had long disliked this sick cat, and if the Demon Emperor hadn't forbidden infighting among kings, it might have been able to secretly eliminate this damned beast.

In an instant, the atmosphere became tense, and the smell of gunpowder filled every breath of air.

Before the Demon Emperor could stop them, Dark Blade King, Sky-Piercing Cicada King, and Hundred-Eyed Demon Insect King all tore away the last vestige of their gentle facade.

"Blood Fiend, stop trying to sow discord here!"

"Since you are fabricating rumors, I might as well be frank: if Your Majesty immediately appoints Tianma as the emperor, I will never submit. It is not qualified to lead us, and it is far from being qualified to be an emperor!"

"Even if I die in battle, I will not leave you by even a step."

For a time, the three kings showed strong resistance, and soon several more kings joined their camp.

The meaning of these monarchs is very clear: if the Demon Emperor leaves, they will leave; if the Demon Emperor does not leave, they will never leave, nor will they accept the rule of the Heavenly Horse or the Taotie.

A moment later, the two factions, each vying for power, began arguing incessantly.

The Sunset Demon King gazed at the chaotic scene before him. The kings on either side of him were all fierce and menacing, wishing they could kill the quarreling parties on the other side. Instead, he was not angry. He simply watched quietly, lost in thought.

"Blood Fiend, words are useless. If you have any guts, fight me in the heavens and see if I kill you, you empty-mouthed bastard."

"What a joke! You think I'm afraid of you? Devouring Heaven, don't take yourself too seriously!"

"Blood Fiend, you've gone too far! What makes you think you can frame us in front of His Majesty?"

"Red Centipede, get your stance straight! Are you also going to betray His Majesty?!"

"Ha, you know perfectly well who betrayed His Majesty and is rushing to curry favor with the new emperor!"

"......"

The kings argued more and more fiercely, and even the ministers were drawn into the dispute, turning into two opposing forces. One side was led by Tianma and Taotie, while the other side was led by Tuntian and Chiwu.

An undeniable fact lay before the Sunset Demon Emperor: apart from him, neither the Gluttonous Saint King nor the Heavenly Horse Saint King could suppress those unruly monarchs.

The Demon Emperor ignored the chaotic scene, as if he were elsewhere, and did not interfere at all. He was contemplating the decisions he was about to make.

Those who dare not disobey and choose to obey are given harsh orders to leave.

For the unruly and extremely loyal side, show leniency and even death, respecting their feelings and choices.

After a few breaths of silence, the Sunset Demon Emperor's eyes suddenly sharpened, and a terrifying pressure erupted from its body, sweeping across the entire area in an instant, intimidating the ministers and kings. They suddenly turned pale, dared not make any more moves, and shut their mouths one after another.

"enough."

"Isn't this enough trouble for me?"

The Sunset Demon King's casual reprimand sent a chill down the spines of all the demons.

"Pegasus."

"The disciple is here."

"After the migration begins, you will be the new Demon Emperor. The throne will be handed over to you. Please take good care of my bloodline."

The Sunset Demon King announced expressionlessly that it held the Pegasus Saint King in high regard, as he was its most beloved disciple, without exception. In fact, the affection it showed towards the Pegasus Saint King was even greater than that shown towards its other princes and princesses.

"Thank you for your grace, Your Majesty. Your subject will never fail to live up to your expectations."

The Heavenly Horse Saint King's eyes reddened, knowing these were his final farewell words. His knees buckled, and he knelt on the ground, bowing his head and speaking in a trembling voice.

“Taotie…” The Sunset Demon Emperor then looked at the old man beside him.

"The minister is here."

"Your clan has always been the protectors of my Sunset Royal Court, from the time of the First Emperor to my generation. You have worked hard. Today, on behalf of my ancestors, I thank you. Please accept my bow."

After saying this, the Sunset Demon Emperor held his hands in a salute and bowed deeply to the Gluttonous Saint King.

"I am deeply grateful for Your Majesty's high regard, but I am unworthy of such praise."

After the Demon Emperor finished his rites, the Gluttonous Saint King hurriedly stepped forward to help it up, saying, "Does Your Majesty have any instructions? Please speak freely, and I will do my utmost to relieve your worries."

"Tianma is still young and lacks experience. I'm afraid it will be difficult for it to gain the trust of the kings and the recognition of millions of people. From now on, you will act as its adoptive father, overseeing the country and assisting Tianma until it can stand on its own. Is that alright?"

The Sunset Demon Emperor tightly grasped the hands of the Gluttonous Saint King, speaking with a sincere expression, as if entrusting the old man with half a lifetime's worth of effort and the fate of the vast royal court. As the ruler of the Nine Palaces, it was qualified to do so.

"Yes... Your Majesty, I understand. I will obey your decree and dedicate the rest of my life to upholding my promise to Your Majesty."

The Gluttonous Saint King's expression darkened, and he spoke with suppressed grief.

"Okay, okay... I'll leave it to you..."

The Sunset Demon Emperor revealed a relieved smile, "You should prepare yourself later. Crown the Pegasus, dress him in imperial robes, and have him inherit my throne. Proclaim to the entire clan that I will send you away in one hour."

"Yes..." the Gluttonous Saint King sighed softly.

Upon hearing this, the six or seven kings present clearly looked displeased, their fists clenching tightly. They knew that His Majesty valued the Heavenly Horse Saint King, but they did not expect it to be to such an exaggerated degree.

Noticing that they were about to lose control of their emotions, the Demon King looked at them with a calm gaze and said gently:

"Devouring Heaven, Crimson Centipede, Flood Dragon, Hundred Eyes, Heaven-Shaking, Dark Blade, Sky-Piercing..."

"Your Majesty, we are here," the seven kings said in unison.

"I'll just ask you one question: do you acknowledge or not that the Heavenly Horse Saint King has ascended the throne as emperor?"

"Your Majesty, we do not acknowledge it."

Devouring Heaven met the Demon Emperor's gaze and said decisively, "Either you kill us now, or we stay with you. Otherwise, don't even think about us submitting to it!"

"Yes, Your Majesty, this is our resolve."

The Hundred-Eyed Demon Insect King patted his chest and said, "Let us follow you, even to the end of our lives, without the slightest resentment."

Knowing it was a battle they were destined to lose, the seven kings still chose to stay without hesitation.

"it is good......."

"Then I'll trouble you all to join me in turning this world upside down."

The Sunset Demon Emperor was deeply gratified and smiled faintly: "You can stay. Your clansmen and families can leave with the new emperor. Is there any objection to that? If you try to bargain any further, I will really get angry."

"I will obey Your Majesty's decree," Devouring King nodded in response.

"New Emperor, treat their families well." The Sunset Demon Emperor, not wanting to disappoint these monarchs, gave the Heavenly Horse Saint King another instruction.

"Yes, Master, I will keep it in mind and never forget it."

The Sunset Demon Emperor nodded, then looked again at the assembled ministers besides the kings, and said:

“Your cultivation is far inferior to that of Devourer of Heaven and Crimson Centipede. I am sorry, but I cannot tolerate those among you who wish to step down. This is something I have failed you all.”

"Go with the army to the more distant stars and take root on the other side. You don't need to worry about my situation. Just take good care of the people of the royal court for me."

As soon as the words fell, the dark mass of demon ministers knelt down in unison. Some wept uncontrollably, some silently gazed at the demon emperor's face as if trying to remember it, and others immediately declared their willingness to carry out all of His Majesty's arrangements.

Soon after, within the forbidden area of ​​the imperial palace, the Demon Emperor completed many arrangements, dispersing his subjects. In the end, only Taotie, the new emperor, and the seven kings who insisted on staying remained.

"Your Majesty, do you have any trump cards to turn the tide?" Taotie Saint King asked anxiously.

"Maybe? Maybe."

The Sunset Demon King smiled self-deprecatingly. It wasn't very confident either; it simply wanted to compete and settle its score.